By Nina Joss
March 23
Why does it take until now, a global crisis, a PANDEMIC, for us to realize we have to take care of ourselves? Why does it take being locked at home to put time into our hobbies and our health? Why does it take having no other options for us to get creative and to really check on each other?
Will this help us to realize that these are things we should be doing always, not just now?
The uncertainty and anxiety is only different because it’s simultaneous, it’s widespread, it’s everything.
But it’s not like it didn’t exist before, even if on a more personal scale. Why does it have to be globally overwhelming for us to take self-care and play and rest and dreams seriously?
A quote from a friend in Italy:
“I’m elevating my soul. I’m being more creative. Maybe I’m innovating myself.”
March 25
Just built a wooden guitar sculpture with Dad in the garage. I smell like bonfire and sawdust and the cold spring night air. This work is fun, doing it with Dad is special. There’s a novelty, a rareness, a freshness to this freedom. To this time. To this father’s woodshop in the garage.
It’s sad and hard to see how this is all affecting my art professor. He is sad and scared. We all are in some ways. But I’m proud and thankful that we can unite in art and these times.
a poem seen on a friend’s Facebook today:
Yes
It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could you know. That’s why we wake
and look out—no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
—William Stafford